Lyon College

Last updated

Lyon College
Former names
Arkansas College (1872–1994)
Motto Latin: Perseverantia Omnia Vincet Deo Volente [1]
Motto in English
Perseverance Conquers All, God Willing.
Type Private college
Established1872;152 years ago (1872)
Religious affiliation
 Presbyterian
Academic affiliations
President Melissa Taverner
Academic staff
61 [2]
Students666 (Fall 2024) [3]
Location
Batesville
,
Arkansas
,
United States

35°46′40″N91°37′33″W / 35.77764°N 91.62579°W / 35.77764; -91.62579
Campus Rural town, 136 acres (0.55 km2) [4]
Colors Crimson, Navy Blue & Gold
      [5]
Nickname Scots
Sporting affiliations
 NCAA Division III – SLIAC (primary)
Website www.lyon.edu

Lyon College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and located in Batesville, Arkansas. Founded in 1872 as Arkansas College, it is the oldest independent college in Arkansas.

Contents

History

Located in Batesville, Arkansas, the college was founded in 1872 and is the oldest independent college in Arkansas. [6] [7] It was founded by Isaac J. Long who served as its first president. He was succeeded by his son E. R. Long and then by a Mr. Cleland. [8]

Morrow Hall was built in 1873 as the first permanent building of Arkansas College. Morrowhall.png
Morrow Hall was built in 1873 as the first permanent building of Arkansas College.

In 1871, state leaders narrowed down choices for the potential flagship location of a state college to either Fayetteville or Batesville. [10] Fayetteville and Washington County residents collaboratively offered financial backing to establish the college in Fayetteville, and Batesville ultimately lost the bid. [10] However, Rev. Isaac J. Long, along with others involved with the Presbyterian church, decided to open a college soon after. They named Arkansas College at Batesville. [11] [12] [13] The charter was signed by Governor Ozra Amander Hadley on October 24, 1872. [14] Morrow Hall was the college's first permanent building, occupied in 1873. [14] The Long family led the college until Dr. Paul M. McCain became president of the college in 1952. [11]

It was renamed Lyon College in 1994, after the Lyon family of Arkansas. [15] [16] Frank Lyon Sr. served on the board of trustees from 1946 to 1988, including as chairman from 1977 to 1987. [17] Frank Lyon Jr. served on the board for more than 30 years, until his death in 2015. [18] He served as chair of the board for four years. [16] Frank Lyon Jr. and Jane Lyon gave the largest gift in the college's history of $10 million. [19]

W. Joseph King became president in July 2017. [20] [21] King succeeded Donald V. Weatherman, who served as president from 2009 until he retired in 2017. [7] [22] Melissa Taverner was named provost in February 2018. After King's resignation in 2021, Taverner succeeded him as president. [23]

Academics

Lyon College is classified among "Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus". [24] In 2019, the college was listed at #50 on the "Top Performers of Social Mobility" published by U.S. News & World Report. [25] As of 2020, Lyon College was ranked #164-#215 among "National Liberal Arts Colleges" U.S. News & World Report . [17] [4]

Campus

Lyon Building LyonBuilding.jpg
Lyon Building

The college was originally located in the "downtown" block that the First Presbyterian Church of Batesville now occupies. [26] In the 1920s, the college moved to East End Heights neighborhood, which was later known as the middle campus. The college added more buildings from 1991 and 1994, including the Holloway Theatre, Lyon Business and Economics Building, President's Residence, Bradley Manor, Upper Division Residence Hall, and Young House. [26] The Derby Center for Science and Mathematics was completed in December 2003, followed by the Kelley Baseball Complex, in January 2004. [26] The size of the current campus is 136 acres. [4]

In October 2010, a fire damaged the Edwards Commons Dining Hall. The building was named after John W. Edwards and Lucille Welman Edwards, who originally funded the building. Reconstruction of the building began in October 2011. [7] [27] Lyon college added two new residence halls, named Whiteside and Wilson, in October 2015. [28] [29]

The campus includes an 18-hole disc golf course that is open to the public. [30] [31]

Student life

Student enrollment was 666, as of fall 2024.

Lyon College has a Scottish Heritage program that provides scholarships and hosts the Arkansas Scottish Festival every October. [32] The program also started a campus pipe band that includes Lyon College students, faculty, and staff, along with volunteer musicians from Batesville and surrounding areas. [7] [32] The pipe band has performed locally in Arkansas as well as in Scotland. [32]

The college adopted a pet-friendly policy in January 2018 that allows students to own pets while living in the on-campus dormitories. It began offering obedience classes for animals and animal-friendly facilities, including a coffee shop and a dog park called the Schram Bark Park. [33]

The college has a student-run honor code and a freshman orientation system that runs from before the start of freshman year until the end of the first year. [32]

Lyon College has a fully endowed two-week study abroad program called the Nichols Program. [32]

In 2019, Lyon College initiated an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and Military Science and Leadership concentration. The program is an affiliate of the Arkansas State University ROTC program. [34]

Former radio station

From 1976 through 1981, the then-Arkansas College operated a low power "Class D" educational FM radio station, KGED, transmitting on 88.1 MHz. [35] Its studio was in the lower level of the Mabee-Simpson library building and the transmitter was located on the upper level of Brown Chapel, with the broadcast antenna inside the steeple. Broadcasting was sporadic over the years and an attempt was made to revive operations in the fall semester of 1981 by freshman station manager Kevin Manzer. However, operations ceased permanently later that same year when the transmitter failed and was deemed not repairable by the station engineer, Dick Treat.

Lyon College students currently operate KILT, an online radio station, and publish student newspaper The Highlander.

Athletics

The Lyon athletic teams are called the Scots. [36] The college is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing as an NCAA D-III Independent since the 2022–23 academic year. The Scots previously competed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2012–13 to 2022–23; [37] [38] [39] in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) from 1997–98 to 2011–12; as an NAIA Independent from 1995–96 to 1996–97; and in the defunct Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) from about 1980–81 to 1994–95.

Lyon competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports: [32] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, [40] soccer, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, [40] soccer, softball, [41] [42] track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include archery, competitive cheer, competitive dance, eSports and shooting sports. Former sports included men's lacrosse.

Wrestling

In January 2014, the college added men's and women's wrestling to its athletic offerings. [43]

Football

Football was added in 2015, which prompted the construction of new residence halls and a 5,500 sq foot field house. [36] The Lyon College football team competed in the Sooner Athletic Conference of the NAIA. [44] [45]

As of 2024, Scots football competes in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Esports

The college is the only member of National Association of Collegiate Esports in the state of Arkansas. [46] Kevin Jenkins is the athletic director. [47]

Intramurals

The college also fields an intramural sports program. [48]

Move to NCAA Division III

On February 8, 2022, the school announced that it planned to transition its athletic programs from the NAIA to NCAA Division III, with any conference home yet to be determined. [49]

On August 22, 2022, Lyon received an invitation to join the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC), starting in the 2023–24 school year. [50]

Lyon College football competes in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Arkansas</span> Public university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, US

The University of Arkansas is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. Founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871, classes were first held in 1872, with its present name adopted in 1899.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics</span> North American college athletics association

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to their student athletes. Around $1.3 billion in athletic scholarship financial aid is awarded to student athletes annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner University</span> Christian university in Lake Wales, Florida, US

Warner University is a private Christian university in Lake Wales, Florida. It is affiliated with the Church of God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Hill College</span> Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama, US

Spring Hill College is a private Jesuit college in Mobile, Alabama. It was founded in 1830 by Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile. Along with being the oldest college or university in the state of Alabama, it was the first Catholic college in the South, is the fifth-oldest Catholic college in the United States, and is the third-oldest member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Jamestown</span> Christian university in Jamestown, North Dakota, US

The University of Jamestown is a private Christian university in Jamestown, North Dakota. Founded in 1883 by the Presbyterian Church, it has about 1,300 students enrolled and has been co-educational from its founding. Until August 2013, the school was known as Jamestown College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia University Institute of Technology</span> Public college in Beckley, West Virginia, US

West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a public college in Beckley, West Virginia. It is a divisional campus of West Virginia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas A&M University–Texarkana</span> Public university in Texarkana, Texas, U.S.

Texas A&M University–Texarkana (A&M–Texarkana) is a public university in Texarkana, Texas. It is part of the Texas A&M University System.

Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with its main campus in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded as a business school in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, JWU enrolled 7,357 students across its campuses in the fall of 2020. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson State University</span> Public university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, U.S.

Henderson State University (HSU) is a public university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, Henderson has an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,500 students. The campus is located on 156 acres (0.63 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Mercy University</span> Catholic liberal arts university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US

Mount Mercy University is a private Catholic liberal arts university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life University</span> Private university in Marietta, Georgia, U.S.

Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia, USA. It was established in 1974 by a chiropractor, Sid E. Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Baptist College</span> Private college in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.

Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) is a private Baptist-affiliated historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1884 as the Minister's Institute, ABC was initially funded by the Colored Baptists of the State of Arkansas. It is the only historically black Baptist school west of the Mississippi River. The Main Building on its campus, built in 1893, is one of the oldest surviving academic buildings in the state, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private Roman Catholic college in Hammond, Indiana. It was founded in 1951 as an extension of Saint Joseph's College and is associated with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. In fall 2022, it enrolled 658 undergraduates and 95 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooner Athletic Conference</span> American college athletic conference

The Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Originally developed as a five-team conference of Oklahoma-based schools, the SAC now boasts 13 schools in a league that spans six states – Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HBCU Athletic Conference</span>

The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), formerly known as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, is a college athletic conference made up entirely of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas as well as the U.S. territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Activities Association</span> American high school sports sanctioning body

The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) is the primary sanctioning body for high school sports in state of Arkansas. AAA is a member association of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA). Every public secondary school in Arkansas is a de jure member of the AAA, and most private schools, save for a few schools in the delta that belong to the Mississippi Private Schools Association and 22 Christian schools who belong to the Heartland Christian Athletic Association, are included in membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UT Permian Basin Falcons</span> Athletic teams representing University of Texas Permian Basin

The UT Permian Basin Falcons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Texas Permian Basin, located in Odessa, Texas, United States, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in Lone Star Conference for most of their varsity sports since the 2016–17 academic year. A UTPB Falcons football team was added for the 2016 NCAA Division II football season to bring the total number of varsity teams to 16. UTPB previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2006–07 to 2015–16; in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and as an NAIA Independent from 1995–96 to 1997–98.

The Southern Arkansas Mulerider baseball team represents Southern Arkansas University in NCAA Division II college baseball. SAU has competed in the Great American Conference (GAC) since 2011. Prior to joining the GAC, SAU competed in the NAIA's Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference from 1950 until moving to the NCAA in 1996. Upon moving to the NCAA, SAU competed in the Western Division of the Gulf South Conference from 1996–2011. The Muleriders play their home games on campus at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Justin Pettigrew is the current head coach.

The Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) was an athletic conference in existence from 1927 or 1928 to 1995 affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference membership consisted entirely of colleges and universities in the state of Arkansas.

The Lyon Scots football team represents Lyon College in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Scots are members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after transitioning from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and participating as an independent for a year in 2023. The Scots play their home games at Pioneer Stadium in Batesville, Arkansas.

References

  1. ↑ Style Guide and Visual Standards. Lyon College. February 15, 2016. p. 31. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Lyon College Student to Faculty Ratio & Faculty Composition". College Factual. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  3. ↑ {{cite web | url =https://www.lyon.edu/news/posts/lyon-college-sees-135-percent-enrollment-increase-for-fall-2024
  4. 1 2 3 "Overview of Lyon College". U.S. News & World Report . 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Style Guide and Visual Standards. Lyon College. February 15, 2016. p. 29. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  6. ↑ Humphrey, Mark (November 19, 2019). "Jackson Signs With Lyon College". Washington County Enterprise-Leader. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Straumsheim, Carol (December 14, 2016). "'Out of the Ashes'". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ "The College Year-Book and Athletic Record". 1897.
  9. ↑ "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". Morrow Hall. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872–2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 6–7. ISBN   978-1-55728-742-7 . Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Lyon College". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. December 7, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872–2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 7–10. ISBN   978-1-55728-742-7 . Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  13. ↑ Reynolds, John Hugh, ed. (1911). Publications of the Arkansas Historical Association, Volume 3. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The Arkansas Historical Association. p. 354. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Arkansas College, 1872–1972". Independence County Chronicle. Special issue (14): 6–9. October 1972.
  15. ↑ Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872–2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College (c). Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 337–342. ISBN   978-1-55728-742-7 . Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  16. 1 2 Bowden, Bill (November 10, 2015). "Hunter inherited passion, acumen". Arkansas Democrat Gazette . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  17. 1 2 Dishongh, Kimberly (March 12, 2006). "James Frank Lyon Jr. Frank Lyon Jr. is a 'stealth philanthropist' with a particular passion for supporting Goodwill Industries and Lyon College. His love of hunting is rooted in respect for conservation and nature's creatures". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Frank Lyon Jr., prominent businessman, veteran dies at 74". Talk Business & Politics. November 10, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  19. ↑ Gadden, Alex (March 9, 2019). "Trust's $1M gift to aid Lyon College students". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  20. ↑ Baugh, Kayla (July 30, 2017). "Lyon College welcomes new president to Batesville". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  21. ↑ Lieberman, Mark (June 11, 2018). "'The World Had Moved On'". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  22. ↑ Lederman, Doug (May 11, 2009). "New Presidents or Provosts: Hong Kong U. of Science and Technology, LaGrange College, Lyon College, SUNY-Albany". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  23. ↑ Buffalo, Mark (February 11, 2018). "New provost looking toward long-term relationship with Lyon". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Lyon College". The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Top Performers on Social Mobility National Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News & World Report . 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 "Our History". Lyon College. 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Lyon College revives Edwards Commons". Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Lyon College opens new dorms for students". KAIT8. October 23, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Lyon College set to expand, build two new dorms". KAIT8. January 31, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  30. ↑ "The Course at Lyon College". Professional Disc Golf Association. September 2, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Disc Golf Course". Lyon College. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Williams, Helaine R. (December 11, 2005). "Wallie Roettger believes that college is still the best investment anyone can make". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  33. ↑ Jaschik, Scott (January 8, 2018). "To Recruit Students, Welcome Their Pets". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  34. ↑ Jared, George (September 3, 2019). "Lyon College offers ROTC program in partnership with ASU". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  35. ↑ Radio Stations: Arkansas: Batesville", Broadcasting Yearbook (1980 edition), page C-13.
  36. 1 2 Krueger, John (June 29, 2013). "Football returning to Lyon College in 2015". The Baxter Bulletin . Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  37. ↑ Long, Christina (April 16, 2019). "Columbia College softball sweeps St. Louis College of Pharmacy". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  38. ↑ "Lyon College". American Midwest Conference. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  39. ↑ "2019–20 NAIA Member Institutions" (PDF). Kansas City, Missouri: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  40. 1 2 Hicks, Phil (October 13, 2019). "College Notebook: Tyler's Bryson Smith throws TD pass for Houston". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Lyon softball ranked #18 in NAIA Coaches Poll". KAIT8. March 12, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  42. ↑ Long, Christina (April 16, 2019). "Columbia College softball sweeps St. Louis College of Pharmacy". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Lyon College Gets a New Look". Sporting Life Arkansas. January 21, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  44. ↑ "State sports briefs". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Lyon College". Sooner Athletic Conference. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  46. ↑ Walkenhorst, Emily (April 7, 2019). "Gaming tourneys planned for ASU". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Lyon College preps for first football game in 61 years". KAIT8. August 8, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Lyon College Intramurals". Lyon College. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Lyon College athletics announces full transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III by 2026". Fort Smith Times Record. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  50. ↑ Lyon College (August 22, 2022). "Lyon College enters NCAA Div. III in SLIAC". GuardOnline.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.